Sky is the limit as North Shields firm finds new HQ

David Sedgwick

A former North Shields pub is set to begin a new lease of life as the corporate HQ of an award-winning accountancy firm.

Blu Sky is investing £200,000 to renovate the old ‘Tun’ into a unique office space.

Blu Sky partner Jon Dudgeon inside the Tun in North Shields, where works are currently taking place by JD Joinery and Building Services.. Picture by Ian McClelland.

The 100 – known as the Tun to locals – closed in 2014 but is now being completely renovated.

Jon Dudgeon, partner at Blu Sky, said: “We’ve been based in North Shields since day one and our steady expansion over the past ten years inevitably led to our current offices in Northumberland Square being unsuitable for the needs of our 20 members of staff.

“We’ve been searching for new office premises for quite some time but could never quite find the kind of space that suited our type of business.

“I walk past the Tun every day and could see that it had real potential to support a move from social space to business offices with the right vision and investment.

“Blu Sky is a very forward-thinking company and we like to challenge the accepted business model and service expectations of a traditional accountancy firm.

“We wanted an open plan space that took into account our flexible approach to working and the lounge area of the pub really supports this type of environment.”

The offices have been designed by Blake Hopkinson Architects and are currently under construction by North East building firm, JD joinery and Building Services through their commercial building division.

Blu Sky has enjoyed steady growth in recent years thanks to an expanding portfolio of businesses seeking the firm’s progressive approach to accountancy services.

Jon added: “A large proportion of our clients operate in the technology sector.

“They joined us at start-up stage several years ago and have gone on to become established firms and we have worked with them through that scale up process.

“About 60 per cent of our clients are North East based with a further 40 per cent based in the South and this is something we are actively looking to support with the design of our new office.

“We will be retaining as much of the character of the building as possible and this will include the old wooden bar as the central feature of the new open plan space.

“Whether we are able to factor in retaining the pumps as a necessary feature of our working environment is up for discussion!

“We’re pleased to invest in the future of our business in North Tyneside and contribute to regeneration in this part of North Shields as the perfect place to locate our HQ.

“Bringing back to life a building that has been a key feature of the local area for a long period of time is a real bonus in our plans.

“It’s safe to say that the whole team is already looking forward to unveiling the new office premises in the summer and welcoming visitors and clients to enjoy the new-look surroundings of the ‘Tun’.”